Galaxy 'honoured' by Lampard link

LA Galaxy chief Tim Leiweke is "honoured" the MLS side have been linked with a summer move for Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard.

Lampard, 34, is out of contract at Stamford Bridge at the end of the season - and has been strongly tipped to replace the departing David Beckham at the MLS side.

While unwilling to confirm or deny interest in the England international, Leiweke - president and CEO of AEG, owners of the Galaxy - admitted it was an honour simply to be considered in the running for the player's signature.

"All the speculation, you guys are allowed to do that, you don't get fined," Leiweke told Sky Sports News. "We do!

"Chelsea is a club we have a great relationship with. We've heard of other players mentioned that are playing in Europe and we want to respect their clubs and where they're at.

"We know how it feels when suddenly a player in the middle of the league, or Champions League, gets in the eye of the storm because of the speculation he's going somewhere else, we won't do that."

He added: "When you mention the likes of Frank Lampard to me, he's one of the class acts of football. I'm a huge fan of him as an individual, a huge fan of him as a captain and a huge fan of him as a player.

"We're honoured that anyone would even speculate that Frank would want to come here, that's a good day."
Lampard has also been linked with moves to China and France, after interim Blues boss Rafa Benitez appeared to suggest at one of his first press conferences at the club that the player's contract would not be renewed.

Leiweke strongly suggested that the Galaxy will open talks with Lampard when FIFA regulations allow them to, in January.

"FIFA rules indicate we're not allowed to talk to players until the last six months of contract and he's longer than six months," he said.

"We're not going to talk about Frank. Their league play and season goes all the way through to June. If we're going to have conversations we'll have them with Chelsea."